Almost half of GPs have prescribed antibiotic treatment for chlamydia infection to a patient’s sexual partner without directly seeing the person, a survey shows.

However, it also reveals that despite patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) being backed by sexual health experts, many doctors remain hesitant, citing concerns both about the medicolegal risks and potential drug-drug interactions.

The survey findings, presented at the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) virtual conference this week, provide the largest evidence base to date about apparent barriers to the use of PDPT.

The practice is only considered permissible for treatment of chlamydia and involves prescribing a single 1g dose of azithromycin to the index case visiting the GP and a similar dose for their sexual partner who has not been examined.